Sargassum seaweed makes its way onto the beaches of Central Florida every year. But something is feeding the annual bloom, and scientists using satellite images say there's more out in the Atlantic Ocean than ever before.This thick layer of sargassum stretches for approximately 5,000 miles, equivalent to twice the width of the United States, and it floats between the Gulf of Mexico and the shores of West Africa. While these giant mats of algae can serve as a home for some marine animals and can absorb carbon dioxide, they are being carried westward by ocean currents, leading to hundreds of tons of seaweed washing up on beaches across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico."What's amazing is this is usually the downtime," said Brian Barnes at the University of South Florida’s optical oceanography department. "The quantity we saw (this time last year) is larger than what we saw during the peak times of July and August."The amount of sargassum is growing each month, as it usually does. But what's different now is that the starting point is so much larger this year. January's amount was 20% bigger than the previous record."All indications are that we will continue to see an increase and see another record bloom," Barnes said.Last July, along Central Florida's beaches, tons and tons of sargassum washed ashore. The annual event is critical to the shoreline ecosystem, but excessive amounts can have a negative impact. It can smother and block out sunlight for shoreline animals and plants but also impact beach tourism during the summer."What we need to do is step back and say, 'What's different this year? What causes sargassum to bloom?'" said Kevin Johnson, of Florida Tech's ocean engineering and marine sciences department.So now there's a focus on the increase of nutrients. Some studies say more are flowing into the Atlantic Ocean from the Amazon River and from fires in Africa. But there’s also a natural source of upwelling from the depths of the Atlantic.No matter the cause or source, the more nutrients that enter the ocean, the more sargassum will bloom.Will we see more on our coasts, then?"So if it's a large enough bloom and it persists long enough, there's a better chance that availability of more floating seaweed is going to intersect with the right kinds of winds," Johnson said. "So it certainly increases the chances, but it’s not a guarantee."
COCOA BEACH, Fla. —
Sargassum seaweed makes its way onto the beaches of Central Florida every year. But something is feeding the annual bloom, and scientists using satellite images say there's more out in the Atlantic Ocean than ever before.
This thick layer of sargassum stretches for approximately 5,000 miles, equivalent to twice the width of the United States, and it floats between the Gulf of Mexico and the shores of West Africa.
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While these giant mats of algae can serve as a home for some marine animals and can absorb carbon dioxide, they are being carried westward by ocean currents, leading to hundreds of tons of seaweed washing up on beaches across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
"What's amazing is this is usually the downtime," said Brian Barnes at the University of South Florida’s optical oceanography department. "The quantity we saw (this time last year) is larger than what we saw during the peak times of July and August."
The amount of sargassum is growing each month, as it usually does. But what's different now is that the starting point is so much larger this year. January's amount was 20% bigger than the previous record.
"All indications are that we will continue to see an increase and see another record bloom," Barnes said.
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Last July, along Central Florida's beaches, tons and tons of sargassum washed ashore. The annual event is critical to the shoreline ecosystem, but excessive amounts can have a negative impact. It can smother and block out sunlight for shoreline animals and plants but also impact beach tourism during the summer.
"What we need to do is step back and say, 'What's different this year? What causes sargassum to bloom?'" said Kevin Johnson, of Florida Tech's ocean engineering and marine sciences department.
So now there's a focus on the increase of nutrients. Some studies say more are flowing into the Atlantic Ocean from the Amazon River and from fires in Africa. But there’s also a natural source of upwelling from the depths of the Atlantic.
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No matter the cause or source, the more nutrients that enter the ocean, the more sargassum will bloom.
Will we see more on our coasts, then?
"So if it's a large enough bloom and it persists long enough, there's a better chance that availability of more floating seaweed is going to intersect with the right kinds of winds," Johnson said. "So it certainly increases the chances, but it’s not a guarantee."
